“I’m looking for someone to share in an adventure, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.”
“I should think so, in these parts. We’re plain, quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things, they make you late for dinner.”
If you know anything about me, you probably know that I am a huge Tolkien nerd. The Hobbit was one of the first books I ever read, and I was hooked from there on.
Next July, I will be embarking on a huge journey–not across Middle-earth–but across the world. Being the huge nerd that I am, I can’t help but think how similar this journey will be to that of Bilbo’s in The Hobbit. So without further ado, here is why I am, in fact, Bilbo Baggins:
1. He was chosen.
Bilbo did not choose his adventure for himself. Rather, he was chosen by Gandalf to take part in it. Gandalf did not choose him because he was the strongest, the smartest, or the most equipped being in Middle-earth, but he chose him nonetheless.
In the same way, God has chosen me to take part in this mission trip. He did not choose me because I am the smartest Bible scholar or the best evangelist, but He chose me nonetheless. Ultimately though, Bilbo was given the chance to decide for himself whether or not he was going to take part in the adventure Gandalf had planned for him, just as God has given me the chance to take part in the journey He has prepared for me.
2. He left his comforts behind.
Bilbo left the comfort of his warm hobbit hole in the Shire, bringing almost nothing with him to call his own. He paraded across Middle-earth with a band of smelly dwarves, sleeping on the ground, in caves, and all manners of uncomfortable places.
During my 11 months on the field, I will be living out of a single backpack, sleeping in a tent, eating strange food, and leaving the comfort of home behind in Georgia. I’m not saying my squadmates and teammates are a band of dwarves, but chances are we’ll smell like it at some point.
3. He faced hardships.
Bilbo’s journey was not a leisurely stroll through the Misty Mountains. He and his companions faced orcs, giant spiders, and even a dragon.
Now while I am sure I will not encounter any dragons on the World Race, I am certain that I will come face to face with hardships. I am not sure what these hardships will look like yet, but I know they are coming, and I am prepared to face them with the courage that only God can give.
4. He grew.
Bilbo was forever changed by his journey. He was no longer a timid hobbit when he returned to Bag End. He became bold and courageous and had a new appreciation for the world and for life.
I hope that by the end of my journey, I will not be the same. I hope that God will make me bolder for Him, teach me how to be courageous when sharing the Gospel, and show me His love for the global church.
5. It was never really his adventure.
Although Bilbo took part in the journey, he played only a small role in something so much bigger. He helped his companions reclaim their homeland, discovered a secret to kill a dragon, and found a tiny ring that would change the course of history of Middle-earth forever. But the adventure was never about him at all. It was about his friends, the people he came in contact with, and something so much greater.
The World Race is not about me. The World Race is about the people I will serve. It is about those who don’t know Christ. And most importantly, it is about giving glory to God every step of the way.
It may not be my adventure, but I am so glad that God has invited me to share in it.
“You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey’s end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.”
